"I thought you'd left me, lover!" exclaimed Buffy, as she walked quickly over to greet Angel. He smiled uneasily at the amazed group. Buffy reached him, wrapped her arms possessively around his neck, and hungrily drew his lips down to hers for a long-awaited, passionate embrace.

Behind them, Xander and the others dashed over to Willow, and hurriedly lifted her up and took her over to the sofa in Giles' office. Giles left Willow with the others and exited the office, watching as Angel reluctantly broke the kiss and hugged Buffy warmly, her back to Giles. Angel glanced over at the librarian, who silently motioned towards the cage. Angel nodded slightly, showing he understood. Giles smiled sympathetically at the pained vampire - Buffy would be furious at Angel for this!

"Come on, baby," murmured Angel seductively in Buffy's ear, "We'll deal with this lot later." Buffy smiled coldly.

"Promise?" she enquired sweetly. Angel just smiled in return, and picked her up. Buffy lay her head on his shoulder, thinking of the fun she and her lover would have torturing her former friends, and sighing contentedly as she closed her eyes, delighted to be in her Angel's arms again.

With her eyes closed, and her mind so wickedly busy, Buffy failed to take notice of the plan in action before her. Angel walked towards the door as Giles followed quietly behind them. Instead of heading right out the door, Angel swung with lightning speed into the caged area, placed a startled Buffy on the bed she had woken up on earlier, and dashed out the door, with Giles slamming closed and locking the cage door behind Angel.

Enraged, Buffy launched herself madly against the cage wall towards Angel, vamped out and growling angrily. "You betrayed me, Angel!" she screamed furiously, "How could you?! I thought you loved me?!" Buffy paused, regaining her composure, and morphed back into her human guise. "I guess Angelus was the truthful one when he said you pretended to love me!" she snarled, her eyes burning with anger. Angel turned away to hide the pain and hurt in his own eyes at her accusation. Giles placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"It's not her, Angel. Just like Angelus was not you. She'll understand when it's done," Giles said quietly. He hated the idea too, but now the Slayer was a vampire. And with her strength, mind and abilities, a potentially dangerous one at that. It had to be done, as the only alternative to completely killing her.

Angel nodded. "Let's get it done."

The others re-entered the room, gathering around the orb that Giles had produced - the same orb that was used for Angel. Angel moved over to stand beside the cage, looking at Buffy, who was glaring darkly at him from the other side. "Traitor," she hissed, as the gang proceeded to chant the Curse of Restoration. Angel just sighed sadly.

Suddenly, Buffy howled with pain, clutching her stomach. She fell to the floor in a heap, and was silent. Angel could only look on in concern, desperate to hold her in his arms as she went through her transformation. Giles came up to him and nodded. He opened the door, allowing Angel access to Buffy. Angel gathered her up and sat with his arms wrapped protectively around her, absentmindedly rocking her small, limp body back and forth gently, whispering inaudible words in her ear.